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Report: Kovalev has received training camp invites

Alex Kovalev's desire has to return to the NHL appears to be mutual. Kovalev reportedly told TVA Sports he has been contacted by NHL teams to pursue playing this season.

"I've received invitations to training camps and hopefully [can] begin skating towards the end of August to be ready for next season [in the NHL]," he told the Quebec-based sports channel, according to TSN.

Kovalev, who has been training in Switzerland, did not reveal which teams extended the offers, TSN said.

In June, Kovalev told the Montreal Gazette he had an interest in returning to the Montreal Canadiens.

"Hopefully, I'll find an NHL team," the 39-year-old said then. "The preference is always going to be a team I've played on because you know the environment.

"And I'd definitely like to come back to Montreal. They're all about the young guys, but I can help in all different ways. And I can still play. I have a lot of energy."

Kovalev signed a two-year contract last year to play in the KHL, but a knee injury limited him to 22 games and he has been released from that deal.

Kovalev played for the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins before he was traded to Montreal during the 2003-04 season. After four seasons with the Canadiens, he signed with the Ottawa Senators as a free agent. He was traded back to the Penguins and played his last NHL game in 2011.

"I'm working hard, training three times a week and keeping in shape. Hopefully, somebody will get interested," he said.

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